When Song Ming first met Qing Ya, he was just a minor constable in Xiangshui County. Qing Ya's status was even lower; she was a maid who had signed a contract of indenture.
However, her life as a maid was quite carefree. Song Ming often encountered her when patrolling the streets. She was either listening to storytellers, watching opera, or eating at various stalls. She was simple and always happy, utterly joyful every day.
Her mistress was the eldest daughter of the Lu family's dye workshop, a peerless beauty in Xiangshui County.
Originally, a young lady like Miss Lu, raised in the inner chambers, would have had no dealings with constables like them. But later, Master Lu contracted diabetes. Master Lu's paternal uncles were country folk, greedy and vicious, intent on seizing his dye workshop, and his son was still young. With no other choice, Miss Lu took over the dye workshop's business, traveling back and forth within and outside the city, leading to more encounters with constables like them.
From then on, the brothers in the yamen vied to patrol that area, all for a chance to catch another glimpse of the beautiful Miss Lu.
Alas, Miss Lu mostly traveled in a carriage, so even when they met, they could only see Qing Ya, the plump maid, hopping beside her.
Qing Ya was plump and young, but she was cheerful and generous. Whenever Miss Lu needed the brothers' help with anything, Qing Ya would be the one to deliver the tokens of gratitude, so the brothers had a good impression of her. Occasionally, they would even invite her for a drink when they met at gatherings.
Qing Ya had a good tolerance for alcohol but didn't like to drink much; she only loved all sorts of delicious food.
Later, when their leader went out of the city to pursue a notorious bandit, he was saved by Miss Lu, and their interactions increased.
To be honest, Song Ming never thought their leader could win the beauty's heart, as too many people were vying for Miss Lu's attention. Moreover, although she wasn't wealthy, she had a decent family fortune. Their leader's monthly salary of four taels was likely not enough to support even the plump maid, Qing Ya. But fate is indeed wondrous; their leader actually managed to win the beauty's hand.
And he was going to Yangzhou to become a constable chief.
Their leader said Miss Lu was a jinx-busting beauty. Song Ming didn't care much for such talk. Praying to gods and buddhas was something women did; how could grown men be superstitious?
As a result, after that, their leader rose steadily in rank, soon becoming a thousand-household commander in Yangzhou.
A fifth-rank official.
Let alone Song Ming, even his mother, who had lived so long, had never seen a fifth-rank official.
Song Ming mused that staying a constable in Xiangshui County wouldn't earn much money. Thinking of his elderly mother at home, he wanted to follow his leader and achieve greatness. However, he was severely berated. Were Japanese pirates so easy to kill? If he died at sea, who would look after his mother?
Then his mother cried a stream of tears at Song Ming. With no other choice, Song Ming abandoned the idea and stayed in Xiangshui County, content to be the somewhat mediocre constable he was.
Although he didn't earn much, at least he had enough to eat and wear.
Unfortunately, fate is unpredictable, and fortune can change in an instant. Song Ming's mother went to visit relatives in the countryside and encountered Japanese pirates massacring a village; she was killed.
The murder of his mother was an unforgivable offense. After burying his mother, Song Ming packed his belongings and headed to Yangzhou to seek out his leader. He wanted to follow his leader to seek revenge; killing one Japanese pirate would be even, killing two would be a profit.
But his leader disagreed, deeming Song Ming's martial arts too poor. He declared that if Song Ming wanted to go to the battlefield, it was possible, but only if he could defeat Qing Ya.
Song Ming was momentarily surprised but didn't think much of it.
Qing Ya was just a bit plump, wasn't she? Could he, a grown man, not defeat a young girl?
The next day, he was beaten by Qing Ya to the point of questioning his existence.
Having known Qing Ya for so many years, this was the first time he realized the plump girl was actually a skilled martial artist. Not only did she know martial arts, but she also possessed incredible strength. With her skills, even their leader had to be cautious when facing her, let alone Song Ming, a constable who had only learned some rudimentary skills at the yamen.
Song Ming collapsed on the ground. Qing Ya looked down at him, her face full of surprise, "No way, someone like you wants to kill Japanese pirates? Are you sure you're not just going to be a burden to my brother-in-law?"
Song Ming was filled with shame.
But Song Ming was unwilling to give up.
From then on, he stayed at the Thousand-Household Commander's mansion, sparring with Qing Ya every morning.
More accurately, he was beaten by Qing Ya every morning. The girl truly showed no mercy. Her chubby fists, which looked soft and fleshy, struck him with the force of ten thousand pounds, capable of shattering two of his ribs.
He finally understood why Qing Ya, such a young girl, could eat and drink and play every day and still earn four taels of silver.
With such skills, if she were hired as a bodyguard or something similar, she wouldn't charge less than twenty taels a month.
No wonder Miss Lu liked to bring her everywhere.